Windows 7: Question about the amount of system memory games use.

I don't know if I really understand what some people at some other message boards were writing to each other about this sort of thing, but it seemed like one person was saying that even if you have a 64-bit version of Windows installed, games that install in the Program Files (x86) folder will only use the amount of system memory a 32-bit Windows operating system would use, 4GB. Someone else said games installed in that folder would only use 2GB of system memory.

I was wondering if the games I play on Windows XP 32-bit could run at higher resolution with higher frame rates if I had Windows XP 64-bit installed instead of Windows XP 32-bit installed. I mean, because the computer has 32GB of system memory. That's the desktop computer in my system specs that has Windows 7 Ultimate and Windows XP installed.

I don't know if a newer graphics card would allow me to play at higher resolution and higher frame rates, but I have to use the graphics card that is in the computer, so I was wondering if being able to use more of the system memory would help.

I have to use that graphics card because there is a glitch, bug, whatever with some old drivers for that graphics card that prevent a HUD element I don't want in these two games from being displayed, drawn, whatever, and there isn't any other way for me to remove that HUD element from these games. I mean, someone who programs computers probably could do that, I guess, but there isn't any way for someone like me to do it. Windows 7 drivers for that graphics card don't date back far enough in time to before that glitch, bug, whatever got fixed, so I use Windows XP and that video card for those two games. It's actually the only reason I have Windows XP installed. Sorry if I didn't need to explain that. I guess I thought maybe someone might read my question and wonder why I think I have to use that graphics card or Windows XP.

I know, right, that must be some terrific game, huh? Not really probably.

Thank you for reading this.

A 32 bit program will for technical reasons be limited to about 2 GB of RAM. There are some exceptions but they usually don't apply to games. This is in the nature of the 32 bit architecture. Where the game is installed makes no difference.

A 32 bit client version of Windows is limited to 4 GB installed RAM of which typically about 3.25 GB will be available for use. The exact value depends on multiple factors. The 2 GB value mentioned previously is a maximum but with other demands on system memory the memory manager may not be able to provide that much to the game. A 64 bit OS can have much more than 4 GB RAM and in that case this will not be a problem.

Be aware that 64 bit XP was never very popular and driver availability was spotty. Many video cards of the day did not have 64 bit drivers and the problem is worse for newer cards. With modern video cards there is virtually no chance. And many games would not run on 64 bit XP anyway.

Thank you for helping me.